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Diwali on the Square 2023

Diwali on the Square 2022

Please note that this event has already occured.

Key information

Date: Sunday 29 October 2023

Time: 1:00pm to 7:00pm

Venue: Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN, GB

Cost: Free

Join us for Diwali on Trafalgar Square, our festival of lights in the heart of London.

Don't miss the Opening Ceremony with two hundred brightly attired dancers dazzling the main square, followed by the public Garba event, open for all to enjoy.

We have an exciting line up of music, dance and performances on the main stage from London's Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. There's an array of activities on offer from sari and turban tying to yoga. We also have:

  • comedy
  • cookery theatres
  • puppet shows

And of course henna!

Browse a wonderful mix of market stalls and enjoy the aromas of our delicious food offerings, promising a delight of vegan and vegetarian treats.

This year we're delighted to present the Diwali Queen, who is part of Kalasetu,  a collaborative project between Subrang Arts and Kinetika, commissioned on behalf of This is Croydon, the London Borough of Culture 2023.

It's a fantastic day out for everyone to enjoy.

We look forward to wishing you a happy Diwali!

Programme

13:00   Opening Dance Sequence

13:25   Live Garba Band and Public Garba

14:10   Opening Ceremony

14:25   Nital Dance

14:35   Dance Shakti Group

14:40   Sonia Sabri - Kathak and Folk Dance North Indian medley

14:50   Children’s Performance 

15:00   Ramayana Play by ISKCON

15:25   Monali’s Dance Studio

15:35   Sowmya Krish – song medley

15:40   Ponsita School of Dance

15: 50  Sahaj Dance Group – Adi Shakti dance sequence

16:00   Public Participation

16:10   Dance Medley

16:25   Natyasri Dance Company – Bharathanatyam Dance

16:30   Ksparks Entertainment – Children’s performance

16: 40  Raj – Punjabi singing medley

16:50   Dance to Inspire – Children’s Performance

17.00   AK Bollywood - Mrs Kapoor’s Daughters wedding Sequence

17.20   Aparjita Burjwal Dance – Bollywood fusion

17.28   Maharastra Mandal of London - Tasha Dhol

17.35   Jeng Bihu Dance – fusion of Bengali dance

17.44   Flytoez Dance Company

17.51   The Bhavan

18.00   Aarti, Kirtan

18.25  Sumeet’s Step2Step Bollywood Dance Academy

18.36   Vandana Somaiya - singing medley

18.48   Bollywood Dance School – fusion dance medley

An array of activities will animate Trafalgar Square throughout the day including:

  • Annakut Zone
  • Children’s area
  • Dance workshops
  • Diwali Culture Zone
  • Diwali Puppet Zone
  • Glimpse of Goddesses
  • Healthy Living Zone
  • IKSCON - Simple Living, High Thinking
  • Meditation and Yoga
  • Sari stand and tie a turban
  • Soho Theatre comedy
  • Subrang Arts Bead Workshops
  • Unity Zone

This year we are delighted to present the Diwali Queen and a series of dance performances presented by Subrang Arts and Beeja Dance.  This is part of Kalasetu, a collaborative project between Subrang Arts and Kinetika commissioned on behalf of This is Croydon, The Mayor's London Borough of Culture 2023.  

Caterers and Stallholders

We are delighted to welcome the following caterers and stallholders to this year's festival.                                     

Anicia’s

Dabeli Hut – Indian Street Food

Delhi Chef

Gully

Jamaica Cold-Pressed Juices

Mr. Bombay

Rajbhog Catering

RockIT – Indian Style Street Food

Rukhsanas

Shayona Catering

Spice Shack

Suresh Street Food   

Barfi Bites

British Transport Police

Decorasian

Dhyan Foundation

Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance

Mahiz Mehndi

Metropolitan Police Hindu Association

Panistori – Gifting Studio

Sahaja Yoga

Sainamika Henna Hair and Beauty

South Asian Health Action – Awareness Team

Thalassaemia Society

The Bhavan

The National Lottery Community Fund

WaterAid

Yogi Power                                          

Sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors for this years event: 

Headline sponsor 

Presenting Partner

Supporting sponsors

Media partners

Hospitality partner

Friend

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for future Diwali events, please contact Anna Godsiff, Event Manager, at [email protected] for a sponsorship pack.

Watch highlights from Diwali 2022

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Access and transport

Accessible facilities at Trafalgar Square

  • Wheelchair accessible public toilets are available on the lower terrace of Trafalgar Square. This is on the west side of the square to the left of the central staircase. These will be open and free of charge during the event.

Accessible transport

Bus

  • Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and 453.
  • All these routes lead to Trafalgar Square. However, 9 and 15 are heritage buses and do not have a low-floor.
  • Visit the TfL website for more information on buses.

Tube

  • The nearest Underground station with step-free access from platform to street level is Westminster. This is served by the Jubilee, District and Circle lines. Outside Westminster station buses 12, 24, 88 or 453 have low-floor buses which call at a stop within 150m of Trafalgar Square.
  • Charing Cross Underground station is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines. It is the closest Tube station. However, it does not have step-free access.
  • Visit the TfL website for accessible Tube maps.

National Rail

  • The nearest railway station is Charing Cross. It is 325 metres away, approximately three minutes’ walk. Charing Cross rail station offers step-free access and a step-free route to Trafalgar Square.

Dial-a-ride

  • Find out about registering and pre-booking Dial-a-ride services.

Accessible parking

The nearest Blue Badge parking spaces to Trafalgar Square are:

  • St Martin’s Street – five spaces - 321 metres from Trafalgar Square
  • Suffolk Street – one space - 644 metres from Trafalgar Square
  • Spring Gardens – one space - 321 metres from Trafalgar Square.

To find other blue badge parking bays nearby, please search the City of Westminster’s website using the postcode WC2N 5DN.

To see where the bays are, click the ‘View results on a map’ button on the search results page.

Additional accessible facilities for Diwali

  • All staff and stewards will be briefed on disability awareness.

  • BSL Interpreters will be present on the main stage. A picture -in-picture will also be displayed in the right hand corner of the 25ft screen which is positioned on the left side of the main stage.

  • Event stewards will be available to help wheelchair users travelling between the upper (north terrace) and the lower terrace levels of Trafalgar Square via the accessible lift.  
  • The accessible viewing area will be at the top of the central staircase. Some seating will be available for companions within the viewing area, and for those less able to stand. An area with hearing loop will be available.
  • A Mobiloo wheelchair accessible portable toilet will be provided on the north west corner of Trafalgar Square (on the upper terrace). The mobile toilet has a hoist and changing table. Mobiloo users needing to use the hoist must bring their own sling with them. This is for your own safety and convenience – and to prevent any cross-contamination between different users. Further details can be found on the Mobiloo website.

Diwali on the Square 2024

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